Julia Asay
113 & 115 North 27th Street, Camden
JULIA A. ASAY was born on a farm in Pemberton, NJ to Charles and Rebecca Asay around 1866. A public school teacher for 44 years, she began teaching in Camden in 1894, and remained with the school system until she retired in 1927. She taught at the Blaine, Rosedale, and Garfield Schools, and in 1914, she was made vice-principal of the then just-opened Cramer School. She was the first ever vice-principal of that school, which was a short walk from her home at 115 North 27th Street. Julia Asay’s sister, Lydia A. Asay, also taught in the Camden school system. Neither sister ever wed.
A long-time member of Asbury Methodist Church, Miss Julia Asay passed away on April 19, 1950. She was buried at Arlington Cemetery in Pennsauken, NJ.
North 27th Street & Westfield Avenue as seen from 2 North 27th Street, February 27, 1904
East Camden Club Plans Summer Events
Camden Courier-Post —
Three social events have gone down on the Summer calendar of East Camden clubwomen. They include a rose tea party, an outing to Ocean City and a pilgrimage to historical points of interest in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia.
Plans for the three affairs were made at the closing meeting of the club held on Monday evening at the clubhouse, 33 North Thirtieth street. The tea party will be held on June 22 at the home of Mrs. Anna Scott, 26 Leonard avenue. It will start at two o’clock. The outing has been scheduled for July 13, and will be held at the Summer residence of Miss Dorothy Morris. No date has been set for the pilgrimage as yet, but will be announced in the near future by the chairman of literature, Mrs. Theodore Warner.
The executive board of the club was in charge of the program presented following Monday evening’s meeting. Mrs. Robert Pinner, president of the club, presided and gave a brief history of the organization which was started on April 25, 1921. Stereopticon views of historical spots in the city, state and county were shown by Miss Julia Asay. Mrs. Pinner discussed the pictures as they were shown.
Mrs. Charles Johnson was hostess chairman for the evening.
East Camden Art Section To Study Indian Crafts
Camden Courier-Post —
Indian life, particularly their crafts, will be discussed by members of the Art Section to the East Camden Woman’s Club meeting tomorrow evening at 8 o’clock, at the home of Miss Julia Asay, 115 North Twenty-seventh street.
Miss Asay, chairman of the group, has arranged the program and is instructing the members in making raffia baskets.
Miss Julia A. Asay Dies at Age of 83; Taught 44 Years
Camden Courier-Post —
Miss Julia A. Asay, 83, of 115 North Twenty-seventh street, a public school teacher for 44 years, 33 of which were in Camden, died Wednesday. She retired June 30, 1927, when she was departmental art instructor at the Cramer Junior High school, of which she also was assistant principal.
Miss Asay, who was born on a farm near Pemberton, was a resident of Camden 60 years. She began teaching school in Pemberton in 1883, and taught in Cross Roads in 1884, in Cranberry in 1885, in Cooks township in 1892 and 1893.
Miss Asay, who had a love for art, began to teach in Camden in 1894 at the old Blane school because she would be near enough to Philadelphia to attend art school there at night.
Became Principal
In 1900 Miss Asay was made principal of the Rosedale school and on Feb. 1, 1902, according to the old records in the office of Dr. Leon N. Neulen, Camden city superintendent of schools. She was made first assistant at the Garfield school.
She attended the Philadelphia School of Industrial Art at night in 1894 and 1895, and also attended night classes in Temple college, now Temple university, in 1902, 1903, 1906 and 1913, and the New York School of Applied Arts in 1912.
When Cramer elementary school was erected in 1914, she was assigned there and became assistant principal. As time went on she saw herself in possession of her heart’s desire, the department of art. In February, 1925, she was transferred to Cramer Junior High school.
After her retirement she taught art to adult study groups, conducted literary study circles and was active in club affairs. She was an amateur artist of note, and attractive pictures of natural scenes and landscapes which she painted decorate the walls of Miss Asay’s home.
In February, 1939, Miss Asay, the art teacher, was guest of honor at a dinner given in Cramer school by the 1923 and 1924 graduating classes.
The dinner also served as a reunion of former Cramer school principals, including Albert M. Bean, now county superintendent of schools; Carleton A. Hopkins, now principal of the Camden High school; Roy R. Zimmerman, then superintendent of Bergen county schools, and L. E. Roberts, principal of Cramer school, now deceased.
General chairman of the committee on arrangements was C. Nelson Hawkins, Charles K. Peterson, treasurer, and Robert S. Cranmerm [sic], financial secretary. Committee members included Henry Regel, Rexford Hurlock, Mrs. Rebecca Wilson, Mrs. Mina Snyder, Mrs. Corinthian Gordon, Mrs. Frances Ivory, Helen McAllister and Ellen Jones.
She was a member of the Asbury Methodist Church and for 40 years taught the Tried and Trusted Sunday school class of the church. She also was a member of the East Camden Women’s club. A sister, Miss Lydia A. Asay, who also was a Camden school teacher, died Aug. 14, 1934.
Surviving are four nieces, Mrs. Ida A. Tushingham, wife of Charles A. Tushingham, of Merchantville, brother of Walter L. Tushingham, retired business manager of the Courier-Post; Mrs. George R. Brewin, Camden; Mrs. Ella Wisham, Connecticut, and Mrs. Charles Parker, Medford, and three nieces, Dr. Richard Hazelton Asay, Camden; Edgar Asay, Camden, and Leon Asay, Collingswood.
Last Survivor
Miss Julia Asay was the last survivor of a family which included three brothers, James K. Asay, a realtor; Richard Asay, a chiropractor; Stephen Asay, a carpenter, and the sister, Lydia A. Her parents were Charles W. and Rebecca Asay.
Services will be held Saturday at 11 a. m. in the funeral home of Clarence J. Eichel, 60 South Twenty-seventh street. The Rev. Everett N. Hunt, pastor of the Asbury Methodist Church, will
Funeral Saturday For Miss Julia Asay
Camden Courier-Post —
Services for Miss Julia A. Asay, 83, a public school teacher for 44 years, will be held Saturday at 11 a. m. in the funeral home of Clarence J. Eichel, 60 South Twenty-seventh street. The Rev. Everett N. Hunt, pastor of the Asbury Methodist Church, of which Miss Asay was a member, will officiate. Burial will be in Arlington cemetery.